What road bike should I get if I am a beginner?

Question

I have never owned a road bike before, but I need to get one to get around now that I don't have a car. I am in college, which is important for two reasons. One is that I don't have much money (what college student does?), so I am looking for something relatively cheap. I have seen bikes priced at about $350 online, and that seems like the highest I'd like to spend, $400 might be fine if the bike is fantastic. The other problem with being on campus is that I'd have to store it outside, where it is at the mercy of the weather and thieves. I was looking for something that I can take the front tire off easily so no one would steal it, and perhaps something that is a little forgiving of the weather. I realize that these are high expectations, so something that fits a few of these requirements is fine. Also I'm 6'0" so a little help on size would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

A) Any bike left outside will...1) Be susceptible to theft. 2) Take a beating from the weather. Store it INSIDE. There are a ton of ways to do it. Stand it upright in a corner. Bike hooks screw into studs in the wall. Hang it from those. See link...

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1280&bih=855&q=bicycle+storage+solutions&oq=bicycle+storage+solutions&gs_l=img.3..0l2j0i5j0i24l3.2081.7658.0.7917.25.19.0.6.6.0.158.2298.0j19.19.0....0...1ac.1.38.img..0.25.2382.gOqmLlTAoRU



B) The ONLY way you'll get a road bike worth a c*** for $400 is ordering online. They do NOT come fully assembled or TUNED-UP. Just about anyone with a bit of mechanical skills can assemble a bike. But...derailleurs must be fine tuned. Brakes need to be centered & adjusted. Most importantly....the spoke tension on at LEAST the rear wheel needs to be checked and/or adjusted by a PROFESSIONAL bike mechanic. I have yet to see one perfect out of the box. That's ll be an additional $15 to $25 - depending on the shop's prices.



C) For $400 - if it were me - I'd buy this...

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/road_bikes/mirage_s.htm

You'll probably need the 58cm frame size.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/images/new_mot_al_geo.jpg

Stand over height for that model is 78.6cm or 30.9 inches. You want about an inch to 2 inches of clearance standing over the bike. With your feet spread apart about shoulder width, measure from the floor to your crotch - snugly.



D) Frame size: "Probably" being the key word. Remember - the final decision is yours. You can NOT test ride a bike sold online BEFORE the sale. You can from a real bike shop.

Answer 2

Storing a bike outside is going to be very hard on it, particularly one in the price range you hope to pay. Theft is another consideration. Removing a wheel isn't going to do all that much to prevent theft. Professional thieves probably won't worry about a missing wheel, they will probably have a vehicle to transport the bikes they steal. Do you realize that a bike bought online will have to be assembled and adjusted? This job would take an experienced bike mechanic 30-45 minutes, a novice could take 4-5 times as long. Your budget for a road bike is very low, you could probably find a decent hybrid for $350-$400 however. One of the traps of paying a low initial price is more expensive upkeep, you can easily spend all the money you "saved" by buying a cheap bike in increased repair and maintenance costs over a year of use. Long term, better quality costs less. A bike like this: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/cafe_latte_x.htm offers decent quality but if you bought a good bike you should really think again about storing it outside

Answer 3

Go to a proper bike shop for some proper professional advice. You have a very small budget for any new bike of any sort, never mind a fantastic one. You want a quick release wheel not tyre, and these are pretty much standard. Maybe a secondhand bike would suit your budget and needs better. Whatever you get do try, try, try before you buy.

Answer 4

Consider 2, maybe 3, essential accessories in addition to the bike. A front-facing white light and a rear-facing red blinkers are musts if you anticipate riding in the dark. Getting hit by a car would suck and besides it's illegal to ride without in most places at night. One ticket is more expensive than the lights. The second is a good lock. Don't be cheap here. You don't need the most expensive lock money can buy but you want to deter thieves. U-locks > cables. Try to get a little nicer lock than the other bikes parked near yours. Simply not being the easiest target of theft will help. And last is a helmet. I don't use one riding around town but that's your decision.



A trick with lights: rear blinkies are hard to improvise, but I've duct taped or Velcro strapped $1 mini-mag lights to my stem. Lot cheaper than front-facing bike lights and it'll work. Try to take lights inside with you or they will be stolen.

Answer 5

I hate to be the one to bring you the sad news... You already missed one heck of a sale on Nashbar.com for a 2013 Schwinn Fastback 3. They were selling them for $449.95. Then I caught a one day sale for 15% off & FREE shipping. Final cost was $382.49. http://www.schwinnbikes.com/usa/bikes/road/fastback-3-mens-16544



Sold out now. All gone.

Answer 6

go to a bike store

you can;t get anything decent at walmart or target

or online, unless you can also assemble and tune it



entry level road bikes are pretty good

i happen to like fuji

others will all be in the same ball park of goodness at a given price



400 isn;t enough really

you could get a hybrid MAYBE on sale



sizes vary, unfortunately

one company;s L is another;s XL

even the numbered ones, 54cm, 56cm, etc are not standard



you probably want 58 cm in a road bike

but you ahve to try it

bike stores will get you the right size



there are no special ''weather'' or ''outside bikes''



any bike in that range will have quick release wheels







wle

Answer 7

find your plan in google or bing.... go to Amazon for buy accessories..

:)